When we think of the biggest contributors to climate change, we might imagine planes, factories, and gas-guzzling cars. But does your local hospital come to mind?
The healthcare sector – which includes hospitals and clinics, as well as manufacturers of medical equipment and medication – is a huge producer of greenhouse gases. Nationally, it accounts for about 9% of our total carbon emissions; in King County, that number is 11%.
At the same time, climate change is straining healthcare systems in multiple ways. Heat waves, wildfire smoke, and other extreme weather events cause injuries and worsen underlying health conditions. This can lead to increased healthcare visits and emergency room admissions, as well as more patient deaths. Climate change also tests healthcare operations and infrastructure, which now need to be able to handle extreme weather events, flooding, and power outages in addition to the increased burden of climate-related illnesses.
This means that it’s important for healthcare systems to take steps to reduce their emissions, minimize waste and improve their energy efficiency – reducing their contributions to global warming – while also taking steps to adapt to our changing climate. In Washington state, we are fortunate to have several healthcare systems that have been nationally awarded for their sustainability efforts. Lessons learned from their work can help jumpstart efforts by other organizations who are just beginning their climate journey.
Learn more about sustainability in the healthcare sector below.
Sustainability in healthcare: FAQs
How does the healthcare sector produce greenhouse gas emissions?
Some of the healthcare sector’s carbon footprint is due to hospitals, clinics and other energy-intensive healthcare facilities that operate at all hours to provide vital services to patients. Operating rooms, for example, can use up to six times more energy than the rest of their hospital.
However, the bulk of emissions created from the healthcare sector comes from the supply chain – the manufacture, transport and disposal of thousands of items used for patient care. Everything from disposable gloves to single-use blood oxygen monitors and bed linens need to be produced, packaged, and transported, only to end up in a landfill after one use. Fortunately, many organizations nationwide are taking steps to minimize waste.
How can hospitals and clinics reduce their emissions and minimize their impact on global warming?
Healthcare organizations can reduce their footprint in many ways. One is by improving energy efficiency, by installing LED lighting and solar panels, or purchasing power from renewable resources, for example. Phasing out single-use products helps minimize waste, while moving to locally-sourced food in the cafeteria can lower the carbon footprint of meals. Here are some examples of actions local healthcare systems are taking:
- Solar installation: Harborview Medical Center
- Waste diversion: Seattle Children’s Hospital
- Anesthetic gas transition: Providence
How can hospitals and clinics adapt to climate change?
It’s crucial for hospital systems to incorporate consideration of climate change and its effects into their long-term planning. They may need to assess how emerging climate-related events such as heat, wildfires and flooding could damage facility infrastructure and disrupt operations. They will also want to understand how climate events could impact patient care and affect the health of their staff, patients, and community. Those assessments can inform strategic planning around construction, facilities management, staffing, and emergency preparedness.
Education is also important. Hospital and clinic administrators, staff, and patients should know about climate change hazards and how to protect themselves and others during an extreme weather event.
What role can healthcare providers play?
Healthcare providers play a critical role in building the climate resilience of community members, patients and staff. They can educate patients on the health impacts of climate change and show them how to protect themselves from health hazards such as wildfire smoke and extreme heat. They can share information on community resources that might be available, and where to find weather alerts and updates. Discussing climate change and health considerations during patient visits can go a long way towards building the community’s capacity to adapt.
Introducing a climate change mitigation playbook for the healthcare sector
To support action in this area, the Climate & Health Equity Initiative at Public Health – Seattle & King County has created a playbook to support hospitals and clinics who are beginning the process of reducing their carbon footprint. This resource was created in partnership with an advisory group consisting of representatives from both local and national health systems, academic institutions, and healthcare sustainability organizations, to ensure materials were useful and relevant for local healthcare partners.
The playbook is aimed at hospital administrators, healthcare providers, and staff interested in sustainability. It includes:
- A summary of sustainability efforts by local health systems
- Examples from leading health systems
- Recommendations to begin and expand sustainability work
- A public health case for healthcare decarbonization
- A rundown of local and state policies requiring emission reduction
Health systems can face many challenges to implementing sustainability practices, such as resource constraints, lack of expertise and no dedicated staff. For those looking for a way to sustain this work, we also include an overview of federal, state and local funding, as well as incentive opportunities for sustainability initiatives.
For more information, visit our climate change and the healthcare sector web page.
Originally published April 24, 2024